Chevrolet Matiz MOT pass rate & common failures
The Chevrolet Matiz appears in 81,057 MOT tests spanning model years 2004–2021, and 69.7% of them passed. City cars of a similar age fail 26.8% of the time, so this is 3.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
Best and worst Matiz years
Ranked across Matiz years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 71.6% of 2010 examples pass against 66.0% of 2005 ones.
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.1%) and suspension (15.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, ball joint and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 5,189 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 29.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Matiz model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5,246 | 66.0% | 34.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 10,135 | 66.8% | 33.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 16,586 | 68.8% | 31.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 17,069 | 70.1% | 29.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 25,683 | 71.4% | 28.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 6,298 | 71.6% | 28.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 13,078 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 12,159 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 10,520 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.0% | 5,644 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.9% | 5,593 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.7% | 5,450 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 4,108 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.4% | 1,962 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 5,189 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 4,946 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 4,633 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 4,614 |
| 5 | Wipers | 4,607 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 4,292 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,256 |
| 8 | Wheel bearings | 3,852 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.4% | 28,724 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.3% | 26,957 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 23,542 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 11,167 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 9,256 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 9,171 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 10,994 | 20.9% |
| 30-60k | 38,473 | 29.3% |
| 60-90k | 25,210 | 34.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,495 | 36.6% |
| 120-150k | 661 | 37.7% |
| 150k+ | 114 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,722 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 18,698 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 16,214 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 13,584 | 31.3% |
| 2025 | 10,839 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a Chevrolet Matiz
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (13.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Chevrolet Matiz?
69.7% of the 81,057 Chevrolet Matiz MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.3% fail rate, across model years 2004–2021.
What does the Chevrolet Matiz most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, then suspension (15.0%).
Which Matiz years are best and worst for MOT results?
2010 has the best pass rate at 71.6% and 2005 the weakest at 66.0%, from 6,298 and 5,246 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Matiz MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.1% for 150k+, a 14.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 81,057 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.